my grandmother's hands are wrinkled and wise

experience can be traced along every line

and strength can be seen in her hands lying still

now clasped for eternity, warding off further ill

my grandmother's hands so translucent and thin

i gently brush up against her cold skin

trying to grasp and hold on to something akin

to her beautiful presence once held within

my grandmother's hands have held both life and death

and now that she has taken her last breath

i can only imagine the peace she can feel--

her mortal pain has forever been healed.